Dengue in the Pacific: Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, other report outbreaks

At least nine Pacific Island Nations today are experiencing dengue fever outbreaks, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Aedes aegypti/CDC

The Solomon Islands has experience the highest number of cases, with more than 10,000 suspected infections since a dengue outbreak was declared in October 2016. Red Cross personnel have just completed a successful dengue awareness campaign which reached over 16,000 people. The four month operation, supported by the IFRC’s disaster relief emergency fund (DREF), saw the mobilization of 75 Solomon Islands Red Cross volunteers who carried out health awareness activities in dengue hotspots with schools and communities, working closely with the Ministry of Health & other partners.

In Vanuatu, suspected dengue cases have risen to almost 2,000 since November 2016, impacting five of the countries six provinces. The IFRC has provided emergency funds to enable the Vanuatu Red Cross to run an awareness and response campaign for three months, which aims to reach around 26,000 people.

Two thirds of those contracting dengue are under 25 years old which has led the Vanuatu Red Cross to focus its awareness activities on school-aged children and young adults.

In Fiji, the Red Cross has been disseminating information about dengue as part of its Tropical Cyclone Winston recovery work since May last year. Fiji Red Cross Health Coordinator Marica Kepa said that people have received information on how to fight dengue through door to door visits and community meetings, including how to destroy mosquito breeding grounds and how to avoid bites and keep hydrated if bitten.

There have been 155 confirmed cases of dengue so far in Fiji in 2017, and the Government is preparing to launch a “Fight the Bite” awareness campaign.

In American Samoa the government has declared a public health emergency after 30 suspected and 13 confirmed dengue cases. It is the first time the country has had a case of dengue serotype 2 since 1972.

In New Caledonia there have been 1,163 dengue cases and three people have died from the disease. Nauru has 50 suspected cases, and the virus has also been confirmed in Palau (51), French Polynesia (29) and Australia (202).

The IFRC’s Asia Pacific Regional Emergency Health Coordinator Kym Blechynden said the outbreaks are a concern because of the high number of countries affected. She explained how higher than normal rainfall experienced in a number of countries has created good conditions for mosquitos to breed.

“We are keeping a close watch on the situation and are ready to provide further support to Red Cross National Societies in their prevention and response activities as needed, including mobilising our wide network of community volunteers,” said Blechynden.